Prashast Singh Let me make it clear: there are two ways in which you can possibly check out this film -Either as something at par with the previous films of the series or as a standalone film.If you're watching it expecting something as great as the previous Bourne movies, then this film might not just impress you, because it misses not just the magic of writing but even Bourne himself (and this is no spoiler). Jeremy Renner is a very good actor who plays Aaron Cross brilliantly, but just don't expect another Jason Bourne; You'll get a first Aaron Cross.And that's something great.If you're watching it as a standalone film, then you might not be disappointed, but due to some continuity and better understanding reasons, it IS recommended to watch the previous movies. Anyways, the film has been shot very well. If there's something this film has at par with the previous movies, then it's undoubtedly the action. All action sequences are mindblowing and exhilarating, especially the chase sequence in the climax: it was really AWESOME!The film however disappoints on the editing front. The first 30 minutes are painfully slow with just a few good shots and scenery. The screenplay is a little convoluted during this time, and it requires a lot of patience to wait for something exciting to happen. The previous Bourne movies were gripping right from the beginning, and this doesn't happen with this one. But right after the first 30 minutes are over, you get exactly what you'd have wished for: explosive action sequences and thrills. From here, the film goes almost right till the end. THE BOURNE LEGACY is an enjoyable action thriller "Bourne" out of the previous films of the series, and with its excellent action sequences proves to be an energetic action thriller worth watching. I hope Jason Bourne and Aaron Cross meet in future. What will that movie be called, then? THE BOURNE EXCELLENCY, I guess.

juneebuggy This was pretty good. A decent story, good stunts and action. I really liked the inclusion of the parallel time line this runs on, with flashes to the three other Jason Bourne movies.The new hero here is Jeremy Renner, a scientifically engineered, genetically enhanced CIA agent who goes on the run when his program is cancelled and everyone included is ordered eliminated. Along the way he kidnaps/rescues the research scientist (Rachel Weisz) who helped create him.The story opens in Alaska where a bearded Renner as Aaron Cross is training 'Rocky 4' style, climbing snow capped mountains, doing tasks in very cold water and hanging out in the snow. Lots of running, some OK fight scenes...not cool Jason Bourne style but good enough. A couple decent chase scenes too with motorcycles through the streets of Manila.Edward Norton is one of the suits trying to take him out from some office headquarters somewhere bland- he doesn't really add much. Stacy Keach is there and all the other series veterans show up as well; Scott Glen, Joan Allen, Albert Finney.

TheLittleSongbird Having recently watched the original Bourne trilogy films, they left me with the sense of how did it take me so long to see them. Really liked 'Identity' and 'Supremacy' and loved 'Ultimatum', even if neither were flawless.Didn't really have high expectations for 'The Bourne Legacy'. From hearing about it, it did seem like it, despite having the name Bourne in the title, would not feel like a Jason Bourne film and that it would not be the same without Matt Damon. It also sounded like it was not much more than a pointless cash-grab. Finally seeing it, giving it the benefit of the doubt as deserved, 'The Bourne Legacy' was nowhere near as bad as feared and there are some good elements. To me, however, it wasn't a particularly good, let alone great, instalment and one really does question the point of it.There are obvious strengths. On a visual level, it is every bit as slick and stylish as the original Bourne trilogy and the locations are stunning. The music pulsates and fits well without being over-bearing. While the action does seem not enough, some of it is executed very well and are pretty exciting, the highlights being the tense shoot-out in Weisz's character's home and the climactic motorbike chase that despite perhaps being on the too long side delivers big on the thrills, so much so one wishes that too much of the rest of the film delivered just as big.Jeremy Renner had big shoes to fill and does so more than capably. Matt Damon and the character of Jason Bourne are very much sorely missed that it feels like a gaping hole has been left, but Renner does bring intense steel and vulnerability. Weisz's character is somewhat underwritten, but she makes much of little and shows an appropriate and necessary sympathetic charm.On the other hand, Edward Norton phones it in in quite easily the weakest villain of all four films put together, injecting very little menace or gravitas at all. The supporting cast do do capably enough, but too many of them have next to nothing to do, some like Stacy Keach are so underused that one questions why they are even there in the first place. Paul Greengrass and Doug Linman Tony Gilroy is not, while showing beforehand he excelled as a writer there was an air of inexperience in his directing. It seemed like Gilroy was trying to hard to imitate Greengrass but without the excitement and intensity.In 'The Bourne Legacy', the thrills don't come consistently with some scenes going on for too long and feeling muddled and underdeveloped. The script is messy, doing very little with the characters and too often it is far too talky but without the intelligence, subtlety or sharpness of 'Identity', 'Supremacy' and particularly 'Ultimatum'. It's very clunky and confused as well.Story also could have been much better executed. It starts interminably slow, and while the connections and overlapping to the previous films (particularly 'Ultimatum') were okay on their own their placement was clumsy, convoluted and upset the flow. Understanding a film is very rarely a problem with me, some of 'The Bourne Legacy' was ridiculously convoluted.Overall, a little better than expected but it wasn't needed. Anything deserves to be judged as standing on its own feet without being compared, but the drop in quality is so significant after the first three films being as good as they were that it was incredibly difficult to ignore. 5/10 Bethany Cox

Art Vandelay I haven't watched more than 5 minutes total of the three previous Bourne movies so I couldn't care less whether this one does or doesn't star Matt Damon or whether it continues the story properly. So no biases. I just watched this movie. I see ''Improved'' ''humans'' who have outlived their usefulness/become a menace. Different people are called in to shut them/the program down. Violent interactions result in many dead. There's even a brief bit about 2/3 of the way through where Ed Norton's character is watching tape of Renner's character being asked a series of questions. ''Is this a test?'' Renner's character asks. Renner is essential a Nexus-6 replicant. Ed Norton is a blade runner. Everything else is window dressing. I give it a 5 b/c it's a half-decent adrenaline rush, but 15 minutes after it's over you won't remember a thing. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.